People asked to suggest how to improve the area - a chance to have a really local voice heard at the top

People and organisations across South Somerset are being asked to suggest the measures they feel are needed to improve the area, the best ones will get the opportunity to go forward - and maybe made reality - by central Government.

The request is coming from the Local Strategic Partnership, South Somerset Together, and South Somerset District Council, who are seizing the opportunity created by a new law, the Sustainable Communities Act. This is aimed at gathering local opinion, on workable changes needed in the area, and take them up with central Government. Similar work is happening up and down the country as people identify problems and solutions that only the Government can act on.

The partnership is looking for people to suggest measures that they believe would improve the main economic, social and environmental concerns in the area or give local people more of a say in running things to better meet needs. This might include better transport, more energy efficiency, boosting the local economy or better access to essential public services.

The partnership is asking for people to fill out a simple form and return it by Sunday 31 May – after which time a panel of local people will pick the best ones to be worked on and submitted

Paull Robathan, Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership said, "We want to make changes that improve our community, now and in the long term. That is what the term 'sustainable communities' means. We want to ensure our communities are great places to live that can adapt to a changing world "

"We have spent a lot of time listening to local views and gathering evidence to come up with a Strategy that will guide us in creating communities that are actually sustainable. This is being launched on the 13 June at the Yeovil Innovation Centre. People will have the chance to look at the proposals that have come forward on that day and give their views on the best ones for this area..

"Now, and with the support of the district council, we are able to spend time asking local people what they would do to make changes, take action on some of those ideas, and then forward them directly onto central Government so that policies can actually be changed in a way that will benefit our area.

"Your feedback could make a genuine difference to the policies that govern the area. And this process, which fits in with the Sustainable Communities Act that was adopted in 2007, isn't just a one-off thing, people will be given more opportunities to tell us and central Government about what they think should be happening."

The work is being done following South Somerset District Council's adoption of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, designed to allow councils and local people to influence central Government in policies that help reverse economic and social decline.

Proposals can be submitted using a simple template available at The Sustainable Communities Act  page or by contacting Alice Knight on 01963 435061 or alice.knight@southsomerset.gov.uk . Guidance notes to the Sustainable Communities Act are also available here.